Shanta seeks CBI probe into 'CD leak' row

Veteran BJP leader and former central minister Shanta Kumar has sought a CBI inquiry into the audio CD rumpus involving state health minister Kaul Singh Thakur. The disk purportedly contains private conversations the latter had with a businessman friend and a woman.

Veteran BJP leader and former central minister Shanta Kumar has sought a CBI inquiry into the audio CD rumpus involving state health minister Kaul Singh Thakur. The disk purportedly contains private conversations the latter had with a businessman friend and a woman.

Calling the "leak" of the CD shameful, Shanta said the incident was a "new low" in the state's politics. "It's not only a violation of someone's right to privacy but a crime. If the government is behind the affair, as is being alleged, it's quite disturbing. As if this wasn't enough, there's also talk about large scale phone tapping in the past. The chief minister too, alluded to it on various occasions but didn't take any action. The entire incident has brought a bad name to the state and the matter should be thoroughly investigated by an independent agency and those involved should be brought to book," he said.

Shanta also urged Virbhadra and Thakur to refrain from making statements about the matter, ask the CBI to conduct an inquiry and wait for the results.